Canada, where Barrick is based, is home to 60 percent of the world’s mining corporations, which run operations across the globe. Despite being a leader in this industry, Canada has not taken the lead on mediating or taking responsibility for the behavior of their corporations abroad.

As a consequence of this negligence, Canada has drawn criticism from around the world, first by environmental, religious and human rights organizations, and now increasingly from international institutions, such as the United Nations. Even the Canadian government has started to recognize the harsh reality accompanying the presence of their mining industry abroad, which is characterized by environmental destruction, political corruption, community struggles, human rights abuses, and massive amounts of water consumption.

2006 marked the year of the first National Roundtables on Corporate Social Responsibility and the Canadian Extractive Industry in Developing Countries, a forum that was organized in reaction to a 2005 Report from Canada’s Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade (SCFAIT). The standing committee’s report admitted that Canada does have not laws ensuring that Canadian mining companies “conform to human rights standards, including the rights of workers and indigenous peoples.” But, despite overwhelming evidence that the self-regulation and voluntary measures adopted by mining companies are not sufficient to guarantee these rights, a binding legal framework to ensure these rights has yet to be pursued by the Canadian Government. The National Roundtables were an important first step towards the creation of a binding legal framework.

Barrick Investors Win Class Cert. In Mine Compliance Rowby Kurt Orzeck, Law 360March 25th, 2016 A New York federal judge on Wednesday certified a class of investors accusing Barrick Gold Corp. of repeatedly and knowingly misleading them about whether its troubled $8.5 billion South American mining project complied with environmental regulations.

Barrick Gold spills Cyanide in 5 Argentine RiversTeleSURFebruary 23rd, 2016Argentina's Federal Police confirmed that Barrick Gold could be probed over environmental crimes in the country, concludes that there had been a “definite case of law infringement” of the country's legislation on the proper handling of hazardous substances.

Land dispute sends farmers, Barrick Gold back to courtDominican TodayFebruary 11th, 2016Cotui, Dominican Republic. Hundreds of farmers on Thursday are gathered at the Sanchez Ramirez province (central) Land Court, site of the fifth hearing in their case against the miner Barrick Gold.
Hundreds of people have sued the mining company to demand payment for the farmers’ properties.

Leak poisons Barrick Gold’s reputationby Michael Lerner , Blouin News BusinessSeptember 18th, 2015An Argentine judge on Wednesday ordered a five-day suspension of the gold leaching process at Barrick Gold Corp.’s Veladero mine in San Juan province. The purpose is to check if there was any environmental damage from a 15,000 liter cyanide leak on Sunday caused by a faulty valve. Local residents of Jáchal, outraged and fearful of their water supply being contaminated, began protesting as soon as they found out, and spurred the governments of the province and the nation to action.

Barrick Settlement on Rapes and Killings in Papua New Guinea Proof that Victims Need Independent Legal CounselMining WatchApril 3rd, 2015April 3, 2015. Today, eleven of at least 120 women who claim to have been raped and gang raped by security guards at Barrick Gold’s Porgera Joint Venture mine in Papua New Guinea, and three of many more men and their families who claim to have been the victims of violence and killing by security guards, finally got equitable settlements. These fortunate claimants were the clients of lawyers with US-based EarthRights International, who was prepared to file legal cases on their behalf.

JOHN BAIRD STRIKES GOLD WITH BARRICKby Sakura Saunders, Now TorontoMarch 31st, 2015Regardless of technical legality, Baird's former department oversaw the transfer of millions of dollars of public monies to Barrick Gold and Munk's projects

Science on Trial at Pascua LamaGlacierHubChile’s environmental court ruled on Monday that Pascua Lama, the Andean nation’s most controversial mine, is not responsible for damage done to three glaciers near the mine site.
While the mine’s operations will remain suspended due to a variety of other challenges, the decision was a setback for local environmental groups, who seek to protect the country’s glaciers. Some say it also represents a defeat for Chile’s scientific institutions.

Barrick faces multi-billion dollar suit over Porgera mineby Cecilia Jamasmie, Mining.comMarch 19th, 2015Canada's Barrick Gold (NYSE, TSX:ABX), in the midst of a worldwide assets sale to help reduce net debt by at least $3 billion, has something else to worry about these days, as the firm is now facing a legal threat in Papua New Guinea.

Porgera Gold Mine Landowners claim $US4b from BarrickPost Courier (PNG)March 11th, 2015MP Mangape says Barrick owes $US4 billion for breach of contract agreements including Special Mining Lease landowners’ resettlement packages, Fly in Fly Out agreement projects, infrastructure including roads and bridges, social and environmental damages.
Mr Mangape on behalf of landowners from both Special Mining Lease (SML) and Lease for Mining Purposes (LMP) said the claim was genuine and if Barrick doesn’t pay, they will take it to the international arbitration.

Unveiling Medals, Veiling Abuse: A profile of the mines sourcing PanAm Medalsby compiled by Sakura SaundersMarch 3rd, 2015Barrick Gold and the Royal Canadian Mint today unveiled the design of the medals to be awarded to athletes at this summer's PanAm games. 4,000 competitions medals will be awarded during the course of both the Pan Am Games and the Parapan Am Games.
But why are we using this opportunity to promote the irresponsible practice of open pit gold mining, especially considering that we get more than enough gold these days from recycled sources? Specifically, why are we celebrating a mining company whose abuses are well documented and widespread. To illustrate my point, let's look at the three mines highlighted as the sources of the PanAm medals.